Senathirajah complains of upstart from East plotting to oust TNA leader

By Dinasena Ratugamage

A politician from the East was trying to become the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) by creating issues among its MPs, former TNA MP, Mavai Senathirajah told the media on Wednesday.

Addressing the media in Jaffna, Senathirajah said that he had informed the TNAMPs of the situation and had held discussions with several party seniors on the matter.

“This politician has been telling MPs that the current leader of the TNA, R. Sampanthan is too old and on good terms with the government. The MP from the East has said that Sampanthan’s ideas do not suit the 21st Century and that had stood in the way of the Tamil people winning their rights, this upstart has been telling MPs from the North.”

The MP had also promised the re-merger of the North and the East and a separate administrative entity for the Tamil people. He has already met a number of politicians and academics in Jaffna, trying to convince them that he should be made the TNA leader, Senathirajah said.

“This man recently told the media that the government would not give us anything unless the Tamil people cranked up pressure. Sampanthan has kept quiet and the government feels that it can keep on ignoring the TNA,” the former MP said.

Senathirajah said that TNA leader R. Sampanthan was a mature leader and has a wide international network. No other Tamil leader in recent times has had Sampanthan’s stature and it would be counterproductive to change TNA leadership now, he said. “If anything, such a move would destabilise the party. This is not a time for a change in leadership. I feel that things are at a critical juncture and that we should be very careful when dealing with the government,” he said.